Dog rescue is a sad and dark place but as a rescuer regardless of all the horrible things you see... the abuse, the neglect, the death, the ones you can't help, the mean and cruel people... you deal with it for the dogs. You put on a happy face and you deal. This blog is to help one dog rescuer deal and hopefully show other rescuers they are not alone, even though it feels like that most of the time.

Thursday, July 19, 2012

We had a pretty good adoption event on Saturday. 4 dogs went home and so far everyone is doing great! We had a dog who couldn't go home on Saturday b/c he wasn't neutered yet so he went home last night and then a women who volunteered fell in love with Jolie so she is going home tonight.

Even with adopting out so many dogs it still feels like I can't keep up with the number of dogs needing help. It is crazy... you adoption out 4 and 10 need to come in.

How the heck do you keep up with the demand for all the dogs that need a home? Yet, puppies are flying off the shelves at Pet Stores at $800 a piece???

How is that logical?

There are so many commercials, there are so many websites, there is so much education yet people just keep buying dogs... hell people just keep producing dogs.

Wonder if idiots will always win or if some day people will smarten up and STOP PRODUCING puppies. UGH!

Friday, July 13, 2012

I know I shouldn't get frustrated but I do. I am the one that decided to run a non profit. No one said I had to. But sometimes I just get so frustrated.

I am the one that has to figure out who we can take, how many we can take.
I have to figure out how to get the dogs from the shelter onto a transport and to my house.
I am the one that has to "find" a place for them to be at my house.
And then what if the "plan" is to kennel two dogs together and they don't get a long. Then I am scrambling to figure out what I am going to do.
I am the one that has to wake up early to a house full of dogs and make sure everyone gets their food, medication, etc.
I am the one that has to figure out how to send payment to the shelter and figure out exactly how much gas money to send those who did the transporting.
I am the one that has to figure out who needs shots, who needs wormed, who needs the vet.
I am the one that has to remember who gets what on what day... heartworm/flea prevention and booster shots.
I am the one that has to pay someone to take care of the animals while I am not home if I choose to go somewhere
I am the one that has to rush home from work to rush to the vet
I am the one that doesn't eat dinner until 10pm b/c I have dogs to take care of.

I AM THE ONE!

And I know, I do it to myself but just frustrates me sometimes because I wish there was someone else that could do it.

Ok, granted my job is crazy stressful.. mostly because it is a new job and you know the whole new job anxiety piece but still sometimes, I just wish I wasn't the one.

Thursday, July 12, 2012

Modell's Sporting Goods a store in the Philly area was having a big release of a new clothing line by Michael Vick. Yes, you heard right... They had him at the store as a promotion of the clothing line and to draw people into the store.

They probably did just the opposite. There are over 500 comments on their Facebook page slamming them for this "promotional" event and slamming them for even carrying the clothing line.

I read through some of the comments.. not all but some and yes some people took comments too far "I would like to put meat juice all over him and toss him into a pit fighting ring." Other simply states "I will NEVER shop here ever again even if it means I have to go out of my way."

Then what really made me upset is there were people not many mind you but some that were trying to defend Michael Vick. Really??? Seriously??? Someone actually said "you crazy animal people why don't you do something like protect children."

Why is it that people always and I mean ALWAYS use that a statement for why "crazy animal people" shouldn't get upset over things like Michael Vick.

Let me put it into prospective with two words, one name.... JERRY SANDUSKY!

Ok, so he has been convicted of some pretty horrible acts on children. I am sure there are people making comments about how they would like to physically harm him and no one is bashing them for those comments. Yet when someone says they wish bad things to someone who hurt an animal they are being a hypocrite?

The maximum sentence for animal cruelty is 1 year in jail and some fines which is what Vick got. Now he is back out in society as a regular member playing a sport he loves and being a "role" model for children. Someone children look up to. This is ok and acceptable because he "paid his debt" someone said in their comments and "he publicly apologized."

Let's say Jerry Sandusky gets 5 years in jail for is crimes (not really sure what maximum is but this is hypothetical analogy). Fast forward. It is 5 years from now. Jerry gets out of jail, publicly apologizes and goes back to working in college football. Is that ok?

I know what some people will argue is that Vick needs to make a living. To that I say so does Sandusky.
I know some people will say it is different with Vick because he isn't working with dogs. Ok, right but Sandusky didn't abuse college students he abused small children.

There are 4 types of crimes that I think should have over the top punishment... felony charges, major fines and a lot A LOT of time in jail
#1. Crimes related to children.
#2. Crimes related to elderly.
#3. Crimes related to mentally or physically handicapped .
#4. Crimes related to animals.

I don't care if it is stealing money, scamming, physical abuse, sexual abuse, etc. LIVING things who depend on others to care for them should NOT in anyway be victimized by cowards. And honestly that is all Vick and Sundusky are cowards! They would have NEVER NEVER EVER tried to hurt someone or something that would fight back or talk. They abused those who could do nothing but allow the abuse to go on.

It makes me want to cry to think, to see, to hear about the dogs Vick had... what goes on in their minds... happy to see their human because they bring food but scared that they are going to torture them.

The graphic detail of how Vick slammed a dog on the ground over and over again until it died. Imagine what was going through the mind of that dog. Wishing for the pain to end but it's body trying to fight to survive.

The picture of the dog bleeding from it's nose with it's tongue hanging from it's mouth with a rope around it's neck. It has been hung for not winning a fight.

Does that not bother people?

Then you have the video that the media exposed about the rapper in Detroit who showed his "fighting" dogs. There were at least 3 other males and a female walking around while he locked and unlocked buildings where dogs and roosters were being kept in horrible conditions and listening to him talk about fighting them. Two small puppies in a cage barking and jumping up and down like puppies do and he says "those are the next champions right there"

SICK!

Would you want your children around someone who could be that violent to a living creature? Would you want your children to look up to someone who has committed such crimes and want to be "just like them"

We have a huge moral issue in our society and something has got to change. Crimes against animals needs to be a lot stiffer. I mean I know people who have had social services called on them regarding their children. And the claims were of course false. Someone was just mad at them and wanted to cause trouble. Yet you see a dog outside in the heat tied to a tree and the police are called to the home 3 times, they knock on the door but no one answers and they just leave the dog there and then it eventually dies.
Why is that ok? Why couldn't they have taken the dog? Oh right because it had a bowl of water..... that makes it ok.

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

A man and his dog were taking a peace full walk through the park when out of no where a dog dropped from the sky landing at their feet. The man and dog were both shocked.. the man looked around and then looked up, there was a bridge over head and two people running.

Yep you guessed right, someone picked this sweet dog up, tossed her over a bridge and ran off.

Believe it or not, she didn't die. She suffered only a broken toe and jammed hips. She spent a month at the vet on cage rest and pain killers but is doing better now. She still walks very stiff and you can tell she spent most or all of her life in a cage. It is hard to explain but I have been seeing it a lot lately in Pit Bulls...I call it Duck Feet. It is like their "ankle" is weak and they walk on part of their actual leg. If I can get pictures I will.

Anyway, the beautiful gray Pit Bull pictures below is the one that was thrown off the bridge. Her name is Skid ;-)

Monday, July 2, 2012

I hate making hard decision when it comes to dogs but it is even harder when you are trying not to make anyone mad. I feel like sometimes I take in a dog and I am totally optimistic and think we can fix her up and make her feel better and then I can't. I feel like a failure and I feel like the entire world (I know it isn't but my world anyway) is watching my every move and all though it is ME who has to make the hard decision and choose what is best for the dog, the welfare of the public everyone has an opinion on what I should or shouldn't do.

I don't want to upset anyone and I try to explain it but sometimes I feel like they don't understand. Then sometimes people do get mad at me and I think to myself... I am the one that is putting my name out there, I am the one putting my life, my family, my pets at risk they aren't.

Ultimately if I am a fearful of what a dog may do, I can't in good conscious allow the dog to potentially harm someone. If I do allow a dog that may hurt someone into society the reality of it is I AM THE ONE RESPONSIBLE! I am the one who is going to be sued. I am the one that could loose everything I own. Don't get me wrong I LOVE dogs and I am willing to do a lot and willing to give up a lot for the dogs.. time and money but I am not going to #1 risk hurting, scaring or killing a human or another dog #2 I am not going to loose everything I have worked my ass off for.

It is a hard decision and one that SUCKS but ultimately I am responsible for the safety and well being of everyone.

I wish no one to have to be in my shoes, although I know so many who are.... all those who are rationally and logically involved in dog rescue.

Sunday, July 1, 2012

Every single dog that I get into my rescue I whisper into their ear "I promise NO ONE will ever hurt you again" I play with them, walk them, exercise them, feed them, bath them, get them vet care... try as hard as I can to make them feel loved and wanted which is probably the first time in their life they have ever felt this way.

They get adopted and the family is so excited to have them and they are so excited to be part of a family.

BUT THEN!

you get in a dog who has been so horribly mistreated, so horribly abused and you do all the things you do for all the dogs PLUS MORE. But because of some A-hole human they are so sick either mentally or physically that there is nothing you can do. You try and you try and you want so badly to succeed...

When talking to other rescue people who have been doing this as long or even longer then I have they know what I am talking about when I say this.... Sometimes deep in your gut you know that there is nothing you can do and it is only a matter of time before someone gets hurt or worse.When you get that feeling you just want to crawl into bed and NOT make that decision... crawl into bed and just NOT DEAL!
But then that wouldn't be very fair to the animal that is suffering mentally or physically now would it....